transpose.siteChords in the key of B♭ (B♭ major)
Songs in B♭ use the seven notes of the B♭ major scale: B♭ C D E♭ F G A. The key signature has 2 (B♭ E♭). The seven chords built on these notes are the ones you will meet most in B♭.
Diatonic chords in B♭
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triad | B♭ | Cm | Dm | E♭ | F | Gm | Adim |
| Seventh | B♭maj7 | Cm7 | Dm7 | E♭maj7 | F7 | Gm7 | Am7(♭5) |
| Role | tonic (home) | subdominant side | tonic substitute | subdominant | dominant (tension) | tonic substitute, relative minor | dominant substitute |
I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
Common progressions in B♭
- B♭ – F – Gm – E♭ (I – V – vi – IV, the most common pop progression)
- B♭ – Gm – E♭ – F (I – vi – IV – V, the '50s progression, ballads)
- Gm – E♭ – B♭ – F (vi – IV – I – V, the same four chords with a minor feel)
- Cm – F – B♭ (ii – V – I, the classic jazz and ballad cadence)
- B♭ – E♭ – F (I – IV – V, rock and blues basics)
Playing in B♭ with a capo
If the barre chords are hard, put on a capo and use the shapes of an easier key.
- Capo on fret 1 + play A shapes (chords in A)
- Capo on fret 3 + play G shapes (chords in G)
- Capo on fret 6 + play E shapes (chords in E)
To move a whole PDF score to an easier key, open it in the free PDF transposer: chords and TAB change together.
Relative minor: G minor
G minor (Gm) uses the same seven notes as B♭ major. If a song starts and ends on Gm, it is in G minor.
Chords in G minor: i Gm · ii° Adim · III B♭ · iv Cm · v Dm · VI E♭ · VII F (D7 is common in place of v)
- Gm – E♭ – B♭ – F (i – VI – III – VII, minor-key rock and ballads)
- Gm – Cm – Dm – Gm (i – iv – v – i, minor-key basics (V7 often replaces v))
- Gm – F – E♭ – F (i – VII – VI – VII, a rock riff progression)